A year after being half a length away from reaching the semi-finals of the TAB Million Dollar Chase, the Gayle Masterson-trained Knight’s Page achieved redemption at Gosford on Tuesday night, winning the first Regional Final of 2020 series and securing that semi-final berth.
In 2019, after winning the consolation of the Group 2 Black Top, The MACCA, at LADBROKES GARDENS, Gayle looked at qualifying Knight’s Page for the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals through the Regional qualifiers at that same track.
The dog won his heat in impressive fashion beating 2019 Golden Easter Egg runner-up Federal Lilly and Get It Gizmo who would go on to finish third behind Good Odds Harada in the MDC Grand Final.
A week later however Knight’s Page was the unlucky loser, finishing fifth behind Get It Gizmo, Federal Lilly, Miley Nismo and 2018 MDC champion Mystic Riot. That quartet all went through to the semi-finals.
But there was no such story on Tuesday night.
Taking full advantage of the box one draw to drive up into the first turn, Knight’s Page was able to hold the lead, and open up a small break on his rivals.
The first one to set out after the leader was CHRIS Carl’s Rock Or Bust, who moved up inside the leader swinging for home, and looked short odds to run on by and win.
But the two leaders collided, and while Knight’s Page was able to adjust and maintain the lead, Rock Or Bust was checked losing his winning chance, and ultimately costing him an MDC semi-final spot.
Bland Purr, who was last at the post the first time, stormed home late to grab second and secure a semi-final spot, while promising youngster Vamos Penny held out Rock Or Bust for third to also book a berth in the October 9 MDC semis.
The trio now join the seven winners of the State Sprint titles back in August who each got a ticket to the semi-finals along with their State Sprint Crowns.
“I am very proud of him,” Gayle said. “He is just such a good dog. It doesn't matter what I ask him to do he just seems to step up and do it. He loves it.
“He's just showing more and more each week and he's bettering his own times each week.
“Up until tonight he had five starts at Gosford for three wins and two seconds and two of the wins and a second were out of box one.”
Gayle will toy with the idea of giving him another hitout at Maitland next week, but is also look at heading to Wentworth Park for another run prior to October 9.
“I've had a lot of thrills in the sport. Knight Sprite gave me some top thrills but he's (Knight’s Page) starting to give me the same thing,” she said.
For Kerry Drynan, trainer of Vamos Penny, the important thing was advancing to the semi-finals, not winning the race.
“That’s all I wanted. It really was just about (finishing) 1, 2, or 3 and get around in one piece. She came out bad, but in hindsight I'm thinking it probably saved her a bit at the first turn and God love her she managed to muster some gusto and get up a third so I'm very happy,” Kerry said.
